Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

USS Ponchatoula Memorial

(AO-148)

March 23, 2018

1. USS Ponchatoula Memorial Marker

Inscription.

USS Ponchatoula Memorial. (AO-148). . This memorial is dedicated to all the officers and men who served aboard the USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) from its commissioning in January 1956 until its retirement from naval service in August 1992. The Ponchatoula was a Neosha Class Fleet Oiler designed and built to provide underway replenishment to ships at sea. Deployed during the Vietnam War, "The Ponch" was awarded 12 campaign stars and set records for refueling U.S. and allied warships in support of combat operations of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. After time spent assigned to the reserve fleet, the ship was towed in June 2014 from San Francisco, CA, to Brownsville, TX, where she was scrapped.

The memorial is a 1/7 scale replica of the stern of the ship and contains artifacts recovered from the ship during dismantling. When the Memorial was dedicated on May 16, 2015, a time capsule was placed in the capstan to be opened at a time determined by the City of Ponchatoula, LA.

Memorial Design by: . David Cedillo . Baytown, Texas. . This memorial was erected in 2015. It is in Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish Louisiana

This memorial is dedicated to all the officers and men who served aboard the USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) from its commissioning in January 1956 until its retirement from naval service in August 1992. The Ponchatoula was a Neosha Class Fleet Oiler designed and built to provide underway replenishment to ships at sea. Deployed during the Vietnam War, "The Ponch" was awarded 12 campaign stars and set records for refueling U.S. and allied warships in support of combat operations of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. After time spent assigned to the reserve fleet, the ship was towed in June 2014 from San Francisco, CA, to Brownsville, TX, where she was scrapped.

The memorial is a 1/7 scale replica of the stern of the ship and contains artifacts recovered from the ship during dismantling. When the Memorial was dedicated on May 16, 2015, a time capsule was placed in the capstan to be opened at a time determined by the City of Ponchatoula, LA.

Location. 30° 26.324′ N, 90° 26.447′ W. Marker is in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, in Tangipahoa Parish. Memorial is on East Pine Street (State Highway 22) near Southeast Railroad Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ponchatoula LA 70454, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 24, 2018.